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| United States Patent |
5,738,089
|
|
Hoshi
, et al.
|
April 14, 1998
|
Equipment for assisting respiration and system for assisting respiration
Abstract
A system for assisting respiration which includes a flat, belt-shaped, tube
made of rubber, and having a valve for introducing air. The flat tube has
an outer side comprising a layer of a rubber sheet having a high modulus
of elasticity and an inner side comprising a layer of a rubber sheet
having a low modulus of elasticity, and is attachable to a part of a lower
breast to an upper abdomen portion of a patient for intermittently
pressing the part of the lower breast to the upper abdomen portion of the
patient responsive to air being introduced into the flat tube. A belt,
having a same width as that of the flat tube and a length longer than that
of the flat tube, is laminated to the flat tube at the outside of the flat
tube, and may have sheet fasteners at both ends thereof. A flow sensor
detects inspiration and expiration of a patient, a compressor supplies
compressed air to the flat tube during a period of inspiration of the
patient, a pressure regulator regulates a pressure of the compressed air
supplied to the flat tube, a valve is provided for increasing the pressure
of the compressed air supplied to the flat tube, and a release valve is
provided for releasing pressure in the flat tube at an early time in a
period of expiration of the patient. A switchover valve may be provided
for causing the compressor to supply compressed air to the flat tube
during the period of expiration and for causing the release valve to
release pressure in the flat tube at the start of inspiration.
| Inventors:
|
Hoshi; Hiroki (Saiwai-machi, JP);
Kurosawa; Hajime (Sendai, JP);
Maeda; Kimito (Sendai, JP);
Iwasa; Hitomi (Osaka, JP);
Yurimoto; Go (Osaka, JP);
Nanzyo; Satoko (Osaka, JP);
Ito; Katsumi (Osaka, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Hiroki Hoshi (Sendai, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
739433 |
| Filed:
|
October 29, 1996 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Current U.S. Class: |
128/204.18; 128/200.24; 128/205.16; 601/41 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A61H 031/00 |
| Field of Search: |
128/204.18,200.11,200.14,200.242,203.28,205.16
434/265
482/128
601/41
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2233506 | Mar., 1941 | Azaretti | 601/41.
|
| 3454000 | Jul., 1969 | Bird et al. | 601/41.
|
| 4960118 | Oct., 1990 | Pennock | 128/200.
|
| 5137017 | Aug., 1992 | Salter | 128/204.
|
| 5239995 | Aug., 1993 | Estes et al. | 128/204.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 1225889 | Jul., 1987 | CA | 601/41.
|
| 9111166 | Aug., 1991 | WO | 601/41.
|
Primary Examiner: Millin; Vincent
Assistant Examiner: Srivastava; V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman, Langer & Chick
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for assisting respiration, comprising:
a flat tube made of rubber, having a belt shape, and being equipped with a
valve for introducing air, said flat tube having an outer side comprising
a layer of a rubber sheet having a high modulus of elasticity and an inner
side comprising a layer of a rubber sheet having a low modulus of
elasticity, and said flat tube being attachable to a part of a lower
breast to an upper abdomen portion of a patient for intermittently
pressing the part of the lower breast to the upper abdomen portion of the
patient responsive to air being introduced into the flat tube;
a belt which has a same width as that of the flat tube and a length longer
than that of the flat tube, said belt being laminated to the flat tube at
the outside of the flat tube;
a flow sensor for detecting inspiration and expiration of a patient;
a compressor for supplying compressed air to the flat tube during a period
of inspiration of the patient;
a pressure regulator for regulating a pressure of the compressed air
supplied to the flat tube;
a valve for increasing the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the
flat tube; and
a release valve for releasing pressure in the flat tube at an early time in
a period of expiration of the patient.
2. The system for assisting respiration according to claim 1, further
comprising a switchover valve for causing the compressor to supply
compressed air to the flat tube during the period of expiration of the
patient, and for causing the release valve to release pressure in the flat
tube at the start of inspiration by the patient.
3. The system for assisting respiration according to claim 1, wherein said
belt includes sheet fasteners attached to both ends thereof.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to equipment for assisting respiration and a
system for assisting respiration. More particularly, the present invention
relates to an equipment for assisting respiration and a system for
assisting respiration which is used for a patient having a lung disease,
without causing feelings of discomfort and disorder, and at the same time
improving dyspnea.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, artificial respiration by application of an air pressure in
respiratory tracts has been conducted for patients having serious lung
pneumatosis or bronchial asthma. However, in the above artificial
respiration by application of an air pressure in respiratory tracts, the
patient has a foreign body sensation and feeling of discomfort in the
trachea and suffers a great deal of restriction on eating and conversation
because a tube for the respiration must be kept in the trachea through the
mouth, through the nose, or by tracheotomy. Therefore, a noninvasive
method for controlling respiration which does not require insertion of a
tube into the trachea has been desired, and a method of artificial
respiration by high frequency vibration from the outside of the thorax, a
method of a continuous positive air pressure in respiratory tracts (CPAP),
and a method of vibration of the chest wall have been developed.
In the method of artificial respiration by high frequency vibration from
the outside of the thorax, a chamber is attached to a patient in such a
manner that the chamber covers the whole breast and an upper abdominal
part, and vibration in pressure is applied by positive pressure and
negative pressure alternating at a high frequency of about 120 to 180 bpm.
Although the method of artificial respiration by high frequency vibration
from the outside of the thorax is noninvasive, movement of the patient is
restricted because the method requires a large equipment, and only a
limited effect is shown on chronic arctation of respiratory tracts.
Dyspnea is even increased occasionally in cases accompanied with a disease
in the respiratory tracts.
In the method of a continuous positive air pressure in respiratory tracts,
a patient is provided with a mask, and respiration is assisted by sensing
change in the pressure by respiration of the patient. Collapse of the lung
which tends to take place in artificial respiration can be prevented
because the pressure inside of the respiratory tracts is always kept
higher than the atmospheric pressure. However, eating and conversation of
a patient is restricted because the patient must always be wearing the
mask.
In the method of vibration of the chest wall, vibration is applied to an
upper breast part and a lower breast part in a synchronized manner with
inspiration and expiration of a patient to stimulate intercostal muscles.
The patient feels uncomfortable although dyspnea of a patient having
occlusive lung disease is improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has an object of providing an equipment
for assisting respiration and a system for assisting respiration which
require little restriction on movement of a patient when the equipment or
the system is attached, do not cause feelings of discomfort and disorder,
reduce the burden on the patient even in cases such as arctation of the
respiratory tracts and large residual volume, and improve dyspnea and
respiratory insufficiency.
As the result of extensive studies conducted by the present inventors to
achieve the above object, it was discovered that, when a flat tube having
an outer side comprising a layer of a rubber sheet having a high modulus
of elasticity and an inner side comprising a layer of a rubber sheet
having a low modulus of elasticity was attached to a part of lower breast
to upper abdomen of a patient and intermittently pressed on the part of
lower breast to upper abdomen by introducing air into the flat tube,
dyspnea was improved. Moreover, it was unexpectedly discovered that the
effect was exhibited to a remarkable extent when the part of lower breast
to upper abdomen was pressed by supplying compressed air into the flat
tube during the period of inspiration and releasing the pressure at an
early time in the period of expiration. The present invention was
completed on the basis of the discovery.
Thus, the present invention provides:
(1) An equipment for assisting respiration which comprises a flat tube made
of rubber, having a belt shape, equipped with a valve for introducing air,
and having an outer side comprising a layer of a rubber sheet having a
high modulus of elasticity and an inner side comprising a layer of a
rubber sheet having a low modulus of elasticity, is attached to a part of
lower breast to upper abdomen of a patient, and intermittently presses the
part of lower breast to upper abdomen by introducing air into the flat
tube;
(2) An equipment for assisting respiration described in (1) wherein the
equipment additionally comprises a belt which has the same width as that
of the flat tube and a length longer than that of the flat tube, is
laminated to the flat tube at outside of the flat tube, and has sheet
fasteners attached to both ends thereof;
(3) A system for assisting respiration which comprises a flow sensor, a
compressor, a pressure regulator, a valve for adding pressure, a valve for
releasing pressure, and the equipment for assisting respiration described
in any of (1) and (2), detects gas inspired or expired by a patient by the
flow sensor, supplies compressed air into the flat tube during the period
of inspiration, and releases pressure in the flat tube at an early time in
the period of expiration; and
(4) A system for assisting respiration which comprises a flow sensor, a
compressor, a pressure regulator, a valve for adding pressure, a valve for
releasing pressure, and the equipment for assisting respiration described
in any of (1) and (2), detects gas inspired or expired by a patient by the
flow sensor, supplies compressed air into the flat tube during the period
of expiration, and releases pressure in the flat tube at the start of
inspiration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) respectively show a plan view and a side sectional view
of an embodiment of the equipment for assisting respiration the present
invention.
FIG. 2 shows a view of the system for assisting respiration of the present
invention attached to a patient.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the system for assisting respiration of the
present invention.
FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show graphs exhibiting the condition of respiration.
FIGS. 5(a)-5(b) show respiration curves.
The numbers shown in the figures have the meanings as listed in the
following:
1: a valve
2: a flat tube made of rubber
3: an outer side of the flat tube
4: an inner side of the flat tube
5: a belt
6: a sheet fastener
7: a patient
8: an equipment for assisting respiration
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is described in detail in the following. FIG. 1(a)
shows a plan view of an embodiment of the equipment for assisting
respiration of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) shows a side sectional
view thereof. The equipment for assisting respiration of the present
invention comprises a flat tube 2 made of rubber, having a belt shape, and
equipped with a valve for introducing the air 1. The outer side 3 of the
flat tube comprises a layer of a rubber sheet having a high modulus of
elasticity and the inner side 4 of the flat tube comprises a layer of a
rubber sheet having a low modulus of elasticity. When the equipment for
assisting respiration of the present invention is attached to a part of
lower breast to upper abdomen of a patient and the air is introduced into
the flat tube from the valve for introducing the air, the layer of a
rubber sheet having a high modulus of elasticity at the outer side of the
flat tube is not deformed, and the layer of a rubber sheet having a low
modulus of elasticity at the inner side of the flat tube is expanded to
press the part of lower breast to upper abdomen of the patient. As for the
size of the flat tube made of rubber which constitutes the equipment for
assisting respiration of the present invention, in general, a width of 10
to 15 cm and a length of 60 to 100 cm are preferred for adults. An
equipment having a smaller size may be used for infants and children. An
equipment having a larger size may be used for patients of having a larger
body.
It is preferred that the equipment for assisting respiration of the present
invention additionally comprises a belt 5 which has the same width as that
of the flat tube and a length longer than that of the flat tube, is
laminated to the flat tube at the outside of the flat tube, and has sheet
fasteners 6 attached to both ends thereof. When the belt is laminated to
the flat tube and the sheet fasteners are attached to both ends of the
belt, attaching and fixing the equipment for assisting respiration of the
present invention to the part of lower breast to upper abdomen of a
patient can be facilitated.
The rubber material used for preparation of the equipment for assisting
respiration of the present invention is not particularly limited. For
example, a rubber material having physical properties of a tensile stress
of 9 to 12 MPa at an elongation of 300%, a tensile strength of 20 to 27
MPa, an elongation at break of 470 to 600%, and a Shore hardness of 57 to
60 after the rubber material is vulcanized can be used.
The process for preparing the equipment for assisting respiration is not
particularly limited, and a conventional process for processing rubber
materials can be used. For example, a sheet of unvulcanized rubber is cut
to a rectangular shape, and the cut sheet is formed into a tube by
adhering two longer edges together with a rubber adhesive. After a valve
is attached to the obtained tube at a suitable position, both ends of the
tube are adhered together with a rubber adhesive to prepare a flat tube.
To a face of the prepared flat tube which is designated to be the outer
side, a cord sheet in which fibers are arranged in the longitudinal
direction with loose restrictions to the perpendicular direction is
laminated to increase the modulus of elasticity of this side of the flat
tube. A belt longer than the flat belt is laminated to the flat tube where
necessary. By vulcanizing the whole combination, the equipment for
assisting respiration of the present invention can be obtained.
The equipment for assisting respiration of the present invention is
attached to a part of lower breast to upper abdomen of a patient having
occlusive lung disease. FIG. 2 shows a view of the system for assisting
respiration of the present invention attached to a patient. In this
figure, a patient 7 has the equipment for assisting respiration 8 of the
present invention attached to a part of lower breast to upper abdomen. As
the method for using the equipment for assisting respiration of the
present invention, a method in which a specific pressure is constantly
applied to the flat tube of the equipment for assisting respiration
attached to the part of lower breast to upper abdomen, or a method in
which the respiration of the patient is sensed and the pressure applied to
the flat tube of the equipment for assisting respiration is varied in a
synchronized manner with the respiration, may be adopted. When a specific
pressure is constantly applied to the flat tube of the equipment for
assisting respiration, it is suitable that the pressure is adjusted to 5
to 20 cm of water. When a patient having occlusive lung disease, such as
lung pneumatosis or bronchial asthma, is attached to the equipment for
assisting respiration of the present invention and a specific pressure is
constantly applied to the flat tube, the respiration of the patient using
the abdominal muscles is made easier, and dyspnea of the patient can be
improved. Moreover, because training of the respiratory muscles can be
practiced by using the equipment for assisting respiration of the present
invention, the equipment can also be used as a tool for the respiratory
training, and the conventional respiratory training using a sand bag
becomes unnecessary. In the equipment for assisting respiration of the
present invention, because the pressure in the flat tube can be kept
constant simply by closing the valve after the pressure has been applied
and no additional auxiliary equipment is required, it is made possible
that the patient freely moves around while the patient is attached to the
equipment for assisting respiration of the present invention.
In the equipment for assisting respiration of the present invention, the
pressure applied to the flat tube can be varied in a synchronized manner
with the respiration of the patient. When a conventional equipment for
assisting respiration to which the pressure is applied in a synchronized
manner with the respiration is used, it is generally practiced that the
pressure is applied during the period of expiration of the patient, and
the pressure is released or reduced during the period of inspiration. In
contrast, when the equipment for assisting respiration of the present
invention is used, it has unexpectedly been discovered in many cases that
the respiration of the patient is assisted and the dyspnea is improved
when a pressure is applied to the flat tube by introducing the compressed
air during the period of inspiration of the patient and the pressure is
released at an early time during the period of expiration. The system for
assisting respiration of the present invention comprises a flow sensor, a
compressor, a pressure regulator, a valve for adding pressure, and a valve
for releasing pressure in addition to the equipment for assisting
respiration of the present invention. The expiration and the inspiration
of the patient is detected and the variation in the pressure applied to
the flat tube is synchronized with the respiration of the patient by the
above system.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the system for assisting respiration of the
present invention. In this system, the compressed air prepared by a
compressor is introduced to the valve for adding pressure through a
pressure reducing valve. A signal sent from a flow sensor placed in the
nostril of a patient is detected by a circuit for discriminating
expiration and inspiration, and a signal showing the inspiration or the
expiration is sent to the pressure regulator. The equipment for assisting
respiration is equipped with a pressure sensor which detects the pressure
applied to the flat tube of the equipment for assisting respiration, and
signals are sent to the pressure regulator so that the pressure applied to
the flat tube is kept to a specified value. During the period of
inspiration, the valve for releasing pressure is closed, and the valve for
adding pressure is opened by the signal sent from the pressure regulator
to supply the compressed air to the flat tube, and pressure is applied to
the part of lower breast to upper abdomen of the patient. At an early time
during the period of expiration, the valve for adding pressure is closed
and the valve for releasing pressure is opened by the signal sent from the
pressure regulator to release the pressure in the flat tube of the
equipment for assisting respiration. In the system for assisting
respiration of the present invention, the pressure applied to the patient
can suitably be selected in accordance with the condition of the patient,
and is generally selected in the range of 5 to 50 cm of water. The amount
of the air sent to the equipment is not particularly limited and can
suitably be selected in accordance with the volume of the flat tube of the
equipment for assisting respiration in the expanded condition. In general,
an amount of the air of about 500 ml per second is sufficient. By using
the equipment for assisting respiration of the present invention, dyspnea
of a patient having occlusive lung disease, such as lung pneumatosis and
bronchial asthma, is improved, and wheeze of a patient having bronchial
asthma is reduced. Collapse of bronchus and vesicula pulmonalis can be
prevented by the outer movement at the early time during the period of
expiration.
As described in the above, the system for assisting respiration of the
present invention is effective in many cases when the pressure is added
during the period of inspiration and the pressure is released at an early
time during the period of expiration. However, it is occasionally
effective to add the pressure during the period of expiration and release
the pressure during the period of inspiration when a patient, for example,
having a restrained lung disease is treated. For treatment of such a
patient, the mode of control of the pressure regulator is changed. In more
detail, the signal sent from the flow sensor placed in the nostril of a
patient is detected by the circuit discriminating expiration and
inspiration, and a signal showing the inspiration or the expiration is
sent to the pressure regulator. The equipment for assisting respiration is
equipped with a pressure sensor which detects the pressure applied to the
flat tube of the equipment for assisting respiration, and a signal is sent
to the pressure regulator so that the pressure applied to the flat tube is
kept to a specified value. During the period of expiration, the valve for
releasing pressure is closed and the valve for adding pressure is opened
by the signal sent from the pressure regulator to supply the compressed
air to the flat tube, and pressure is applied to the part of lower breast
to upper abdomen of the patient. When the inspiration starts, the valve
for adding pressure is closed and the valve for releasing pressure is
opened by the signal sent from the pressure regulator to release the
pressure in the flat tube of the equipment for assisting respiration. By
using the equipment for assisting respiration of the present invention,
dyspnea of a patient of restrained lung disease, such as fibroid lung and
lung tuberculosis, is improved, and movement of the thorax at the early
time during the period of expiration can be increased.
The equipment for assisting respiration and the system for assisting
respiration of the present invention cause little discomfort and disorder
when the equipment or the system are attached to a patient and can improve
dyspnea by decreasing the index for dyspnea, i.e. by decreasing the
so-called BORG index. In the cases of disease in respiratory tracts, a
decrease in the pressure in respiratory tracts can be achieved. In the
case of lung pneumatosis, an increase in one second dose can be achieved.
The effect of removing phlegm is enhanced for a patient of bronchial
asthma. Moreover, the equipment for assisting respiration and the system
for assisting respiration of the present invention can be used as a
training tool and a training system, respectively, for abdominal
breathing.
To summarize the advantages obtained by the present invention, the
equipment for assisting respiration of the present invention causes little
discomfort and disorder to a patient having a lung disease and can improve
dyspnea. The system for assisting respiration of the present invention can
remarkably improve dyspnea by adding and releasing pressure in a
synchronized manner with the respiration of the patient.
The present invention is described in more detail with reference to the
following examples.
EXAMPLE 1
(Preparation of an Equipment for Assisting Respiration)
An equipment for assisting respiration having the structure shown in FIG. 1
was prepared. A rubber sheet having a thickness of 1.0 mm was prepared
from an unvulcanized rubber which had a tensile stress of 10 MPa at an
elongation of 300%, a tensile strength of 25 MPa, an elongation at break
of 550%, and a Shore hardness of 58 after the rubber was vulcanized. The
prepared rubber sheet was cut to a rectangular shape having a size of 240
mm.times.800 mm, wherein the edges having the length of 800 mm were cut to
form inclined surfaces. One side of the sheet prepared by the cutting was
completely covered with talc powder. The inclined surfaces formed by the
cutting were coated with a rubber adhesive by using a brush. When the
coated rubber adhesive was dump-dry, the inclined surfaces were brought
together in such a manner that the side covered with talc powder was
placed inside, and the inclined surfaces were pressed together by a roll
to form a tube by adhesion. A hole was formed at the central part of the
adhered part, and a valve was attached to the hole with a rubber adhesive.
The inner surfaces of the open parts at both ends of the tube were coated
with a rubber adhesive to a width of 12 mm. When the coated rubber
adhesive was dump-dry, the tube was folded to bring the end parts together
in such a manner that the valve was placed at the central position, and
the end parts were pressed together by a roll to prepare a flat tube by
tightly sealing both ends of the tube to each other. The outside of the
flat tube, i.e. the side attached with the valve, is coated with a rubber
adhesive. A rayon cord sheet in which fibers are arranged in the
longitudinal direction with loose restrictions to the perpendicular
direction was cut to 140 mm.times.830 mm and wetted with toluene in which
a small amount of rubber was dissolved. The treated rayon cord sheet was
attached to the outside of the flat tube, and the parts of the rayon cord
sheet left protruded from the flat tube were folded inward and adhered to
the flat tube.
A sheet of a thickness of 1.5 mm was prepared by using the same
unvulcanized rubber as that used in the above and cut to a rectangular
shape of 120 mm.times.1,350 mm to prepare a rubber sheet for a belt. A
hole for the valve was formed on the rubber sheet for a belt at the
position of the valve which is decided by placing an end of the rubber
sheet for a belt at the position of an end of the flat tube. The part of
the rubber sheet for a belt to be put together with the flat tube was
coated with toluene in which a small amount of rubber was dissolved. The
outside of the flat tube was also coated with toluene in which a small
amount of rubber was dissolved. The rubber sheet for a belt and the
outside of the flat tube were brought together and pressed to each other
by a roll. The above-prepared flat tube attached with the rubber sheet for
a belt was placed in an oven at 150.degree. C. and vulcanized for 35
minutes. After the vulcanization, sheet fasteners were attached to both
ends of the belt with a rubber adhesive to prepare an equipment for
assisting respiration.
EXAMPLE 2
A patient having lung pneumatosis (male, 72 year old) was attached with the
equipment for assisting respiration prepared in Example 1. A constant
pressure of 10 cm of water was applied, and the condition of respiration
was compared with the ordinary condition of respiration without the
equipment for assisting respiration.
FIG. 4(a) shows a graph exhibiting the ordinary condition of respiration
without the equipment for assisting respiration. FIG. 4(b) shows a graph
exhibiting the condition of respiration when the equipment for assisting
respiration was attached and the constant pressure of 10 cm of water was
applied. In these graphs, the abscissa shows the time passed in one
respiration, and the ordinate shows the amount of the respiration. It can
be understood by comparing these graphs that the time passed in one
respiration was longer and the amount of the respiration was larger under
the condition in which the equipment for assisting respiration was
attached and the constant pressure of 10 cm of water was applied than
those under the condition without the equipment for assisting respiration,
and thus the dyspnea was improved.
EXAMPLE 3
Tests for assisting respiration were conducted with 8 patients having lung
pneumatosis and 8 patients having bronchial asthma by using the equipment
for assisting respiration prepared in Example 1 in accordance with the
system for assisting respiration shown in FIG. 3.
BORG index under the ordinary condition, BORG index under the condition in
which the equipment for assisting respiration was attached and the
pressure was added during the period of inspiration and released at an
early time of the period of expiration, and BORG index under the condition
in which the equipment for assisting respiration was used and the pressure
was added during the period of expiration and released at the start of the
inspiration were obtained with each patient. For deciding the pressure to
be added, the pressure was changed by an increment of 5 cm of water, and
the optimum pressure was obtained as the pressure showing the minimum
value of BORG index. BORG index is an index indicating the degree of
dyspnea in a number of 1 to 10. A larger number shows a higher degree of
dyspnea. The results are shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
BORG index optimum
pressure
pressure
pressure
ordinary
added added during
Patient condi- during during inspiration
No. disease tion inspiration
expiration
(cm water)
______________________________________
1 lung pneumatosis
3 1 5 15
2 lung pneumatosis
4 2 5 10
3 lung pneumatosis
3 2 3 10
4 lung pneumatosis
4 4 4 --
5 lung pneumatosis
3 3 2 --
6 lung pneumatosis
2 1 3 --
7 lung pneumatosis
3 0 5 35
8 lung pneumatosis
2 1 4 10
9 bronchial asthma
3 1 4 25
10 bronchial asthma
2 3 1 --
11 bronchial asthma
3 1 4 20
12 bronchial asthma
3 2 4 25
13 bronchial asthma
4 1 4 20
14 bronchial asthma
4 2 5 15
15 bronchial asthma
3 1 4 20
16 bronchial asthma
4 2 5 25
______________________________________
When the pressure was added during the period of inspiration, 13 patients
showed decrease in BORG index, 2 patients showed no change in BORG index,
and 1 patient showed increase in BORG index among 16 patients. When the
pressure was added during the period of expiration, 2 patients showed
decrease in BORG index, 3 patients showed no change in BORG index, and 11
patients showed increase in BORG index. It can be understood from these
results that, when the equipment for assisting respiration and the system
for assisting respiration of the present invention are used, dyspnea of a
patient having an occlusive lung disease is remarkably improved by adding
pressure during the period of inspiration and releasing the pressure at an
early time in the period of expiration.
EXAMPLE 4
Test for assisting respiration was conducted with a patient having
bronchial asthma (female, 24 years old) by using the equipment for
assisting respiration prepared in Example 1 in accordance with the system
for assisting respiration shown in FIG. 3, and respiration curves were
obtained.
FIG. 5(a) shows a respiration curve under the ordinary condition in which
the equipment for assisting respiration was not used. FIG. 5(b) shows a
respiration curve under the condition in which the equipment for
respiration was attached and a constant pressure of 20 cm of water was
applied. FIG. 5(c) shows a respiration curve under the condition in which
a pressure of 20 cm of water was applied during the period of inspiration
and the pressure was released at an early time during the period of
expiration. In the graphs showing the respiration curves, the abscissa
shows time, and the ordinate shows the inspiration and the expiration
wherein the upward direction shows the inspiration and the downward
direction shows the expiration. It can be understood by comparing these
respiration curves that the amount of the respiration was increased when
the equipment for assisting respiration was attached and the constant
pressure of 20 cm of water was applied in comparison with that under the
ordinary condition without the equipment for assisting respiration, that
the amount of the respiration was further increased and the respiration
curve showed a double phase shape during the period of inspiration when
the pressure of 20 cm of water was applied during the period of
inspiration and the pressure was released at an early time during the
period of expiration, and therefore, that dyspnea could remarkably be
improved by using the equipment for assisting respiration and the system
for assisting respiration of the present invention.
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